The Others
Meet The Others: J Forsyth
The Game Changers. The Rule Breakers. The Innovators. Discover some of the fantastic emerging talent showcasing their work at The Other Art Fair.
Melbourne based photographer J Forsyth captures the beauty of the ordinary in her surroundings, particularly suburban and small town buildings, construction sites, and people going about their day.
How would you describe your artwork?
Documentary photography mainly shot on 35mm film with point and shoot camera or basic SLR’s. I take photos of places I find myself in, using available light to capture the space. Most of my work doesn’t have people in it but what is shown in the frame represents a time or a person or a generation provoking thoughts on who was there before. And sometimes things are just beautiful and I photograph them, beauty over purpose.
What does making art mean to you?
Making art is a way to use my moods to capture the world around me. Each photo I take depends on my state of mind and the light that is available. I find I can’t return to take the same photo because the moment has passed and the space is different. Taking photos on 35mm film makes everything more simple. It’s just me, the camera and the space, no add-ons, no lense changes or extra equipment. And what comes back on film is all that moment was meant to be. Sometimes I am completely surprised, sometimes disappointed but the process of taking photos is as important to me as the final product. It’s a way of processing the world around me and finding beauty in everyday life.
How did you get started making art?
My nana bought me a small red point and shoot (film) camera when I was in grade 5/6, probably pretty similar to the point and shoots I’m using now. I was always a little too scared to take too many photos and waste the film so I always cherished each shot and really thought about it. It all just continued on from there.
What is it like to be a part of The Other Art Fair?
The Other Art Fair was an amazing experience. Being surrounded by other amazing artists for a few days making friends and getting to be around so much beautiful art. I am not a big fan of talking about my work normally so this was a great way to get the thoughts out of my head and into the world. I loved chatting with all the different people, all with different takes on what my work meant to them.
The first piece I sold was to a women in her mid 20’s, we got along super well and it was her first art purchase, we chatted for ages earlier in the night and it was so great to see her come back and make a purchase. It’s a cool feeling
What is your favourite piece for sale on your Saatchi Art profile and why
The Commission Flats Fitzroy is one of my overall favourite photos. The colours are so bright and the tower block is shining in the light. There are no people in the shot but the commission towers represents so many generations past and present of so many different backgrounds.
At the moment though, it’s summer in Melbourne so I have a fondness for Under Flinders Pier. I rare photo with people in it. This shot makes me think of summer as a kid & of the archetypal summer by the coast that is represented in so many historic photographs from the past.
